What are all the demerits in having a winglet

  • Thread starter sakthivelzz
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In summary, there are several demerits to having winglets besides the increased wingloading and viscous drag. These include the fixed cost of purchasing them, the cost of taking the aircraft out of service for installation, and the added cost of routine inspections. Additionally, there is extra weight added to the aircraft and potential changes in aeroelastic behavior.
  • #1
sakthivelzz
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Hi everyone! I'm new to this community ...I need to know few things about winglets..

1) what are all the demerits in having a winglet other than adding up wingloading,viscous drag ?

please reply only if ur sure about your answer as am working out for my thesis...

thank you...
 
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  • #2


sakthivelzz said:
1) what are all the demerits in having a winglet other than adding up wingloading,viscous drag ?
There is a fixed cost in buying them, especially as an after-market feature.
Plus the cost of taking the aircraft out of service to install them and the extra cost of routine inspections.

West-jet were trying them on their fleet and published some numbers showing the fuel savings had saved about 10% of the cost of installing them.
Mostly because they have very high fleet utilization - so aircraft out of service are very expensive, and they fly mostly commuter routes so spend proportionally less time at cruise where the fuel savings are greatest
 
  • #3


Cons:
-Additional structure required to support them
-Thus additional weight to the aircraft
-Aeroelastic behavior changes

Just a few off the top of my head
 

1. What is a winglet and how does it affect aircraft performance?

A winglet is a small, vertical fin attached to the wingtip of an aircraft. It is designed to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the wing by reducing drag and increasing lift. This can result in improved fuel efficiency and range for the aircraft.

2. What are the main disadvantages of using winglets?

One of the main disadvantages of winglets is their additional weight, which can increase the overall weight of the aircraft and potentially decrease its payload capacity. Winglets can also increase the complexity and maintenance costs of the wing structure.

3. Can winglets cause any safety concerns?

There have been some concerns about the potential for wingtip vortices to be amplified by winglets, which could affect the stability and handling of the aircraft. However, proper design and testing can mitigate these concerns.

4. Are there any limitations on the use of winglets?

Winglets are most effective at reducing drag and improving efficiency at cruising speeds. At lower speeds, such as during takeoff and landing, they may not provide as much benefit. Additionally, certain wing designs may not be compatible with winglets.

5. Are there any environmental impacts of using winglets?

While winglets can improve the fuel efficiency of an aircraft, they also require additional materials and energy to produce and maintain. This could potentially have a negative impact on the environment. However, the overall benefits of reduced fuel consumption may outweigh this impact.

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